Sales down on European market but massive growth outside EU

The Renault group sold 208,578 vehicles (cars and LCVs) worldwide in April 2007 under the Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors brands. This figure is down 4.8% on April 2006. Worldwide sales for Renault dropped 4.7%, those of Dacia increased 9.6%, and those of Renault Samsung Motors slipped 4.5%. Sales in Europe fell 9.7% to 141,100 units (cars + LCVs) in March, for market share of 9.5%.

Sales in the first four months continued to trend downwards, in line with forecasts, pending the launch of new models. New Twingo, unveiled in early March and marketed from June 15 in France, Slovenia and Italy, is the first vehicle in Renault’s strategy to win back customers. In Western Europe, the Renault brand (cars + LCVs) ranked second in April with a 9.3% market share, and third for the first fourth months (8.6%). Renault continues to enjoy a strong lead in the LCV segment, holding 15.1% of the market in April and 14.8% for the first fourth months.

Dacia sales leapt 60% year-on-year in Europe on the success of Logan MCV alongside Logan sedan. Renault sales outside Europe continued to grow in April (+7.3%) Renault sales in the Euromed region continued to increase, up 6.6% (cars and LCVs).

Renault confirmed its outstanding growth on a booming (+23.9%) Russian market with a 77.7% jump in sales, attributable to the entire range and Logan in particular. Renault topped the 10,000 units-a-month mark for the first time in Russia. Sales continued to advance in Algeria, up 80.3% in April. Renault sales increased by a considerable 24.7% in the Americas. On dynamic markets, sales rose sharply in Brazil (+41.9%), Venezuela (+105.6%) and Colombia (+41.7%).

The product offensive announced in April gets started this month with the launch of Logan and Grand Scénic II in Argentina, followed by Mégane II Coupé-cabriolet in June. Logan is due out in Brazil in July. Renault Samsung Motors sales were stable in Asia-Africa at the end of April (-0.3%), ahead of the SM5 restyle. Logan was launched successfully in Iran in March. India started producing and selling Logan in April, with the first deliveries scheduled for May.